What’s the difference?

Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in
the past and continue to the Finished actions:
present:
I knew Julie for ten years (but then
I've known Julie for ten she moved away and we lost touch).
years (and I still know her).

A finished action in someone's life

A finished action in someone's life (when the
(when the person is still alive: life
person is dead):
experience):
My great-grandmother went to
My brother has beento
Mexico three times.
Mexico three times.

A finished action with a result in the A finished action with no result in the
present: present:

I've lost my keys! (The I lost my keys yesterday. It was

result is that I can't get into my terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new
house now). keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this With a finished time word (last week, last
week, this month, today): month, yesterday):

I've seen John this week. I saw John last week.